In this opening segment, Chris introduces the hobby of slot-car racing, then he and his guest Alan Smith of Scalextric take a look at how slot-car models have evolved over the decades, leading up to the latest technology this hobby has to offer.- Slot-car racing was one of the early hobbies that preceded today's radio-control hobbies, and was a pioneering advancement in that it allows participants to compete against each other in races on a scale-model track (figures B and C).
- Chris's guest is Alan Smith, consultant with Scalextric, LLC -- one of the leading manufacturers of slot-car equipment. According to Alan, entry into the hobby is a simple matter. Everything you need -- cars, controllers, power-supply and track elements -- is included in starter kits like the one shown from Scalextric (figure D). The complete setup like the one shown in our demonstration took about 15 minutes to assemble.
Slot cars today come in three sizes (figure E) or scales. The smallest of these is the HO scale. The largest is 1/24 scale as exemplified by the white Carrera BMW in the photo. The most popular size is the middle-sized 1/32 scale, and this scale has the widest variety of models and styles available.In the world of hobby miniatures, slot cars have a long history. The earliest motorized slot-cars from Scalextric (figure F) were manufactured in the late 1950s. These early models were of stamped-tin construction.In the early sixties, with the expanding affordability of plastics as construction material, Scalextric's cars began being made with plastic bodies, often with uni-body construction (figure G).Racers made in the 1970s like the classic Mini shown in our demonstration (figure H) were the first to use an open-frame motor (figure I) in much the same configuration as that used in model trains.The 1990s-era racers like the Formula 1 car shown (figure J) used can motors like the racers use today. The simple, sealed motor was an advancement for the consumer since it constituted a motor that is essentially maintenance-free. Another advance of this era was the removable easy-fit guide which works in conjunction with the sunken rail track. Since the guide is typically the part that wears out most quickly, being able to easily remove it from the chassis and replace it offered a real advantage.As modern scale slot-cars have evolved they have increasingly grown in attention to detail, replicating the body and features of actual street-cars and racers with great authenticity (figure K).
Scalextric Slot Car SetScale ...... 1/32
Engine...... Electric
Track ...... Sport
Car Styles...... Wide Range
Street Price ......about $250
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